Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) may have won handily in his reelection bid last November, but his constituents strongly believe he should not seek higher office in 2024.
A new poll from Quinnipiac University of 1,091 voters shows that 70% of Californians do not want Newsom to run for president, while only 24% say they would like to see him run.
MOST VOTERS SUPPORT HALEY'S CALL FOR MENTAL COMPETENCY TESTS FOR POLITICIANS OVER 75: POLL
Among Democratic voters, a majority, 54%, say they do not want Newsom to run in 2024, while 35% say they would like to see him run for president next year.
"A resounding thumbs down from the home team as California voters tell the governor: if you have designs on the big job beyond Sacramento, we're not on board," Tim Malloy, polling analyst for Quinnipiac University, said in a statement.
Newsom has consistently insisted he will not run for president in 2024 despite his name being floated as a potential Democratic alternative if President Joe Biden does not seek reelection.
The Golden State governor has taken shots at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who is seen as a likely GOP presidential candidate, including running an advertisement in Florida denouncing DeSantis in July 2022. After Newsom sent a letter to the Justice Department demanding they prosecute Florida and Texas over transporting immigrants to liberal areas, including New York City and Martha's Vineyard, DeSantis quipped that Newsom's "hair gel was interfering with his brain function."
Newsom found himself in trouble with voters in 2021 and found himself on the ballot in a recall election. While Republicans briefly dreamed they had successfully taken the governor down from his perch atop the deep blue state, Newsom pulled out an easy victory, earning the support of more than 60% of voters.
Last year he cruised to reelection, defeating his Republican challenger with 59% of the vote.
Voters have handed Newsom wins in consecutive years, but there are still concerns about how the liberal fighter is running the state's $3.6 trillion economy.
Following boasts about how the state was running a $100 billion budget surplus, Newsom announced the state was, in fact, facing a $25 billion budget shortfall in November.
Two months later, Newsom proposed cutting at least $5.7 billion in climate change proposals from his budget in order to make up for the deficit. The cuts were poorly timed for Newsom as the state was struggling to contain floodwaters resulting from weeks of powerful storms thrashing the state. As part of the trimming, Newsom proposed axing $40 million in funding for restoring flood plain projects.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Californians have been lining up behind Newsom for years, but their support for him at home could be waning, given his handling of the state's budget woes.
“It’s true of every governor: When you start having to cut back on the budget, that’s usually a time when voters get more critical of you,” IGS Poll Director Mark DiCamillo told the Los Angeles Times. “Now, we haven’t gotten there yet. But that’s why we say there’s clouds on the horizon.”